Fleming & Curti, P.L.C. - Age Bias Case

JANUARY 2, 1995 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 26

Age Bias Case

Sidney D. Krasner was 58 years old when his employer, broker Shearson Lehman Brothers, told him he would be demoted. After he complained to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Krasner was fired from the new position to which he had been assigned.

Krasner sued, pointing out that the replacement hired for his original position was a 42-year-old man and that his ultimate firing occurred shortly after he complained of age bias. His employer claimed that the firing was the result of Krasner's poor job performance.

Last month, a three-member arbitration panel (commonly used in cases involving claims by or against stockbrokers) awarded Krasner $765,000 in damages. The result may be the largest ever awarded by an arbitration panel.

Coping With Alzheimer's

Ten tips for dealing with the stress of caring for an Alzheimer's (or dementia) patient, from the Alzheimer's Association:

Get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Do legal and financial planning to avoid later stress.

Educate yourself on caregiving so that you can understand and address many of the behavioral symptoms.

Know what resources, such as adult day care, in-home assistance, etc., are available to help you.

Don't try to do everything yourself. Get help from relatives or professionals.

Don't forget to take care of yourself.

Manage your own level of stress by being aware of the symptoms, such as blurred vision, irritability, etc., and get help if you need it.

Learn to let go and let people help.

Be realistic, because until a cure is found, the progression of Alzheimer's is inescapable.

Give yourself credit, not guilt. You are only human and every little thing you do for your loved one is something you should be proud of.

You might note that a recurring theme in these suggestions is the necessity to get help for the caregiver as well as the patient. Too often, family caregivers feel it necessary to try to do everything on their own. As Mace and Rabins say, in The 36-Hour Day, "it is essential that you find ways to care for yourself so that you will not exhaust your own emotional and physical resources."

The other suggestion modestly overlooked by the Alzheimer's Association is to seek support from and contact with other caregivers. The Association and other support groups can be invaluable resources; the Tucson office of the Alzheimer's Association can be reached at 322-6601.

Sayonara

According to the November issue of Men's Health, the average cost of a funeral in the United States is approximately $3,800. In Japan, the average cost is $20,000.

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